Who Funds PCORI
How Is PCORI Funded?
Sources of the PCOR Trust Fund
The PCORTF receives its income from two key sources:
General Revenue: Annual transfers from the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
- Assessed Fees: A small fee on private health insurance policies, Medicare, and self-insured health plans.
This fee began at $2 per covered life and is adjusted for inflation annually. It is collected via IRS Form 720.
How Much Does PCORTF Collect?
For the fiscal years 2020 through 2029, the PCORTF is scheduled to receive between $275.5 million in FY 2020 and up to $399 million in FY 2029. These amounts are determined annually by legislation and inflation adjustments.
Source: https://www.pcori.org/about/financial-statements-and-reports/our-funding
Distribution of the PCORTF
Funds in the PCORTF are allocated among three key agencies:
PCORI (80%): Supports clinical comparative effectiveness research (CER) to generate patient-centered outcomes.
AHRQ (16%): The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality uses these funds to disseminate PCORI findings, promote their adoption in clinical practice, and train researchers.
- HHS Secretary’s Office (4%): The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services uses this portion to improve national data infrastructure and capacity to support outcomes research, as per Section 937(f) of the Public Health Service Act.
Legal Authorization Behind PCORTF
The legal framework for the PCORTF is laid out in two key statutory sections:
Section 1183 of the Social Security Act, which outlines how funding must be used for comparative effectiveness research.
Section 9511 of the Internal Revenue Code, which establishes the PCOR Trust Fund and its allowable sources of income.
WRAP
The funding of PCORI through the PCOR Trust Fund ensures ongoing support for healthcare research that directly impacts patient care and clinical decision-making. Through a blend of public funding and health plan fees, PCORI remains a vital player in the U.S. healthcare system—helping bridge the gap between research and practical, real-world treatment outcomes.Understanding who funds PCORI helps clarify how your healthcare dollars contribute to improving national health strategies.